Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Increasing Production with Sustainability

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1 International Journal of Agriculture and Food Science Technology. ISSN , Volume 4, Number 3 (2013), pp Research India Publications ijafst.htm Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Increasing Production with Sustainability A.H. Kalhapure 1, B.T. Shete 2 and M.B. Dhonde 3 1,2,3 Department of Agronomy, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ditrict- Ahmednagar, Maharashtra , India. Abstract Field experiment was conducted at Breeder Seed Production farm of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri for two consecutive kharif seasons of years 2010 and 2011 to find out most efficient and economic combination of different organic and inorganic sources of nutrients to increase the productivity of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) without deteriorating the soil qualities. Application of 25% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) in combination with biofertilizers (Azotobacter chroococcum+ phosphate solubilizing bacteria), green manuring with sunhemp and incorporation of t/ha improves soil physico- chemical properties (viz. decrease in alkaline ph by 0.4, bulk density by 0.04 g/cm 3 and increase in infiltration rate by 0.65 cm/hr). This was also responsible for improving the nutrient status of soil in respect of organic carbon, available N and available P 2 O 5 which were increased by 0.14%, 4.4 kg/ha and 11.7 kg/ha, respectively over the initial nutrient status of soil. Maize grain yield was increased by % over control and % over application of 100% RDF with combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers which was 7.4 t/ha with highest gross return (`95.9x10 3 /ha) and net return (`54.2x10 3 /ha). Maximum B:C ratio (1.30) was also observed in jointly use of 25% RDF, compost, biofertilizers and green manuring and it was followed by application of 100% RDF (1.26) which was responsible for deterioration of nutrient status of soil. Keywords: Biofertilizer, Compost, Green manuring, Inorganic fertilizers, Maize, Nutrient management, Physico- chemical properties, Productivity.

2 196 A.H. Kalhapure et al 1. Introduction Maize (Zea mays L.) has becoming very popular cereal crop in India because of the increasing market price and high production potential of hybrid varieties in both irrigated as well as rainfed conditions. More ever in irrigated areas farmers produce the income equal to the cash crops such as sugarcane, onion, cotton, etc. in comparatively short time period of days by cultivating hybrid maize varieties. Hence the trend of replacing some cash crops with maize in intensive cultivation is observed in present condition. For increasing the profitability of maize in only economic view, farmers are cultivating the crop intensively with the huge use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, etc. Maize crop has better yield response to chemical or inorganic fertilizers. Hence heavy doses of these fertilizers are applied to maize. Though these practices are helps to increase the temporary increase the production of crop; deterioration of natural resources (viz. land, water and air) is also the another side of such high input intensive cultivation. Over reliance on use of chemical fertilizers has been associated with declines in soil physical and chemical properties and crop yield (Hepperly et al., 2009) and significant land problems, such as soil degradation due to over exploitation of land and soil pollution caused by high application rates of fertilizers and pesticide application (Singh, 2000). The organic sources besides supplying N, P and K also make unavailable sources of elemental nitrogen, bound phosphates, micronutrients, and decomposed plant residues into an available form to facilitate to plant to absorb the nutrients. But, it is also the fact that optimum yield level of maize production can t be achieved by using only organic manures because of their low nutrient content. Efficacy of organic sources to meet the nutrient requirement of crop is not as assured as mineral fertilizers, but the joint use of chemical fertilizers along with various organic sources is capable of improving soil quality and higher crop productivity on long- term basis. Highest productivity of crops in sustainable manner without deteriorating the soil and other natural resources could be achieved only by applying appropriate combination of different organic manures and inorganic fertilizers (Chandrashekara et al., 2000). It is important to identify the best type of available organic resources which can be used as fertilizers and their best combination with appropriate proportion of inorganic fertilizers. Keeping this point in view, present investigation was conducted to find out best combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers for maximum production of maize with higher income level in sustainable manner without affecting the soil qualities. 2. Materials and Methods A field experiment in randomized block design which consists of 11 treatments with three replications was conducted at the Breeder Seed Production Farm of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during two consecutive kharif seasons of year 2010 and The experimental site was located at N latitudes and E

3 Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Increasing 197 longitudes with average annual rainfall of 520 mm. The soil of experimental field was deep with silty clay loam in texture, slightly alkaline ph (8.2), medium in organic carbon (0.55%), available P 2 O 5 (19.5kg/ha), K 2 O (261.5kg/ha) and low in available N (235.0kg/ha). Maize hybrid Rajershi was sown at first fortnight of July for both years on flat bed at the spacing of 60cm x 20cm with seed rate of 15 kg/ha. Different treatments of application of inorganic sources of nutrients (viz. recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and 25% RDF) and organic sources of nutrients (viz. application of compost, biofertilizer, sunhemp green manuring) and their combinations with each other were arranged (Table- 1). RDF used in treatment was 120 kg N+ 60 kg P 2 O kg K 2 O/ha out of which whole P 2 O 5 and K 2 O were applied at the time of sowing and N was applied in three split doses as- 20% at the time of sowing, 40% at 30 DAS and remaining 40% at the time of tassaling (i.e. at 60 DAS). Well decomposed compost which was prepared with cattle dung and farm residues was applied at the rate of 10 t/ha before sowing the crop. In the treatments where 25% RDF was used, 30 kg N+ 15 kg P 2 O kg K 2 O/ha was applied as- 50% N and whole P 2 O 5 and K 2 O at the time of sowing and remaining 50% N was applied one month after sowing. Biofertilizers inoculants of Azotobacter chroococcum and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) were 10 kg of maize seed as seed treatment before sowing. For the application of green manuring, sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea) seed was sown with seed rate of 30 kg/ha at the row spacing of 60 cm by bullock drawn seed drill before sowing of maize, but at the same day. Then maize seed was sown in these plots in between the rows of sunhemp. Sunhemp crop was then incorporated into soil by bullock drawn plough without damaging the maize crop at 40 days after sowing. Plant protection measures and irrigations whenever required were provided in same manner for all the treatments. Regular biometric observations were recorded at specific time intervals by selecting randomly five plants in each treatment. Crop was harvested at 130 days after sowing for both the years and yield observations were recorded from net plots. Randomly five soil samples from each plot were taken and examined for physico- chemical properties and nutrient status of soil after harvest of maize crop. The trend of observations was same for both the years, hence data was subjected to pooled analysis for interpreting the results. 3. Results and Discussion 3.1 Effect on physico- chemical properties of soil Various treatments found to be effective for changing the different physico- chemical properties of soil (Table 1). Significantly lowest ph was observed in application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost. Also the decrease in ph over initial value is more in treatments which included either sole application of biofertilizers, green manuring and compost or their combination with inorganic nutrient sources. When manures and chemical fertilizers are applied to soil, nitrification and decomposition processes produce various acids. Nitrification process releases H + into soil solution. The organic matter added with

4 198 A.H. Kalhapure et al green manuring and compost application acts as a ph buffer, releasing H + which are responsible for reducing alkalinity of the soil (Antil and Singh, 2007). Application of Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria as biofertilizers are also responsible for decreasing soil ph with producing organic acids which has been earlier reported by Mohammadi and Sohrabi (2012). Table 1: Effect of different treatments on physico- chemical properties of soil after harvest of maize and comparison between initial and after harvest status of these properties (pooled) Treatment ph (pha) Bulk density (g/cm3) (BDa) Infiltration rate (cm/hr) (IRa) Increase or decrease of soil property status as the effect of treatment (after harvest) ph (phaphb*) Bulk density (g/cm3) (BDa- BDb*) T1: 100% RDF T2: 25% RDF T3: compost T4: green manuring with sunhemp T5: Biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB) T6: 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost T7: 25% RDF+ compost T8: 25% RDF+ green manuring with sunhemp T9: 25% RDF+ Biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB) Infiltration rate (cm/hr) (IRa- IRb*)

5 Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Increasing 199 T10: biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost T11: control SEm± CD (P=0.05) ph * b = Initial soil ph = 8.2, BD * b = Initial bulk density of soil= 1.34 gm/cm 3, IR * b = Initial Infiltration rate of soil= 3.09 cm/hr. The lower values of bulk density and higher values of infiltration rate were observed in the treatments where green manuring and compost are applied as organic fertilizers. Application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost resulted in lowest bulk density (1.30g/cm 3 ) and highest infiltration rate (3.74cm/hr) after harvesting the maize crop. This treatment also recorded maximum values of decrease in bulk density and increase in infiltration rate, respectively over the initial values of these parameters. The main reason of decreasing bulk density was aggregation of soil particle due to increasing organic matter as well as stability of aggregates which leads to increase the total pore space in soil. Islam et al. (2012) has been also concluded that addition of organic matter through organic fertilizers decreases the bulk density of soil. Higher bulk density (1.33g/cm 3 ) was observed in application of 100% RDF, 25 % RDF and control treatment. The infiltration rate of soil is depends upon the arrangement of soil particles, porosity and stability of soil aggregates. Also there is inverse relation in bulk density and infiltration rate of soil. The soils of the treatments in which biofertilizer, green manuring with sunhemp and compost were applied in combination recorded higher infiltration rate which might be due to the better soil particle aggregation, microbial respiration, increase pore space and decreased soil bulk density. Similar results regarding the decrease of bulk density and increase in infiltration rate as the effect of addition of organic and inorganic fertilizers in soil were reported by Martens and Frankenberger (1992) and Rasoulzadeh and Yaghoubi (2010) in no cropped field. 3.2 Effect on nutrient uptake by maize The statistical data in Table- 2 reveals that there was significant effect of various sources of nutrients over control on the nutrient uptake of maize. Highest uptake of N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O was observed in application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost. In case of N uptake treatments application of biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost, 25% RDF+ compost, 100% RDF and 25% RDF+ green manuring with sunhemp were found to be on par with each other. The uptake of N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O was

6 200 A.H. Kalhapure et al found higher to the tune of 70, and percent in application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost over control. This might be due to the combined effect of rapid release of nutrients by decomposition of green manuring crop and compost and also due to the increased availability of N and P 2 O 5 which added in the soil through organic and inorganic resources by Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria. Satish et al. (2011) has been also reported that the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer showed higher uptake values of all the three nutrients, which is in close conformity with the results obtained in present investigation. Treat ment Table 2: Effect of different treatments on nutrient uptake of maize, soil nutrient status and comparison between initial and after harvest status of these soil nutrients (pooled data) Nutrient uptake by maize N P2O 5 K2 O Organi c carbon % (OCa) Availa ble N (kg/ha) (Na) Availa ble P2O5 (kg/ha) (Pa) Avail able K2O (kg/ha ) (Ka) Gain of nutrients in soil as the effect of treatment (after harvest) Organ ic carbon % (OCa- OCb*) Availa ble N (kg/ha ) (Na- Nb*) Availa ble P2O5 (kg/ha) (Pa- Pb*) Availabl e K2O (kg/ha) (Ka- Kb*) T T T T T T T T T

7 Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Increasing 201 T T SEm± CD (P=0. 05) OC * b = Initial organic carbon in soil= 0.55%, N * b = Initial available N in soil= kg/ha, P * b = Initial available P 2 O 5 in soil= 19.5 kg/ha, K * b = Initial available K 2 O in soil= kg/ha. 3.3 Effect on soil nutrient status after harvest Significantly higher values of organic carbon percentage, available N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 0 content in soil were recorded in application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost (Table- 2). Green manures and compost are the rich sources of organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and some other micronutrients also. Azotobacter chroococcum fixes the environmental nitrogen asymbiotically and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) are responsible for solubilization phosphorous fixed in soil and made it available for absorbtion by plant roots in elemental form. These all the sources of organic fertilizers were found to be effective for addition of the various nutrients into soil in available form. The percent availability of organic carbon, N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O under 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost was higher to the tune of 102.9%, kg/ha, kg/ha and kg/ha over control, respectively. However in respect of organic carbon percent in soil, treatment 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost, treatment biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost, treatment 25% RDF+ compost, treatment only compost application and treatment application of only green manuring were found to be on par with each other. The lowest availability of these nutrients was observed in control. The similar effects of different organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on the nutrient status of soil after harvest of the crop were revealed by Tetarwal et al. (2011) in rainfed maize. The numerical data in Table-2 reveals that, Application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost made maximum addition amongst all the other treatments of organic carbon, available N and P 2 O 5 by 0.14%, 4.4 kg/ha and 11.7 kg/ha, respectively over the initial status of soil available nutrients. Highest decreased values in organic carbon and soil available N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O over initial soil status were recorded in control which were 0.21%, kg/ha, 10.4 kg/ha and kg/ha, respectively. 3.4 Effect on growth and yield attributing characters All the growth and yield attributing characters were affected by different treatments (Table- 3). Significantly taller plants and highest total plant dry matter content were recorded in application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green

8 202 A.H. Kalhapure et al manuring with sunhemp+ compost. However the treatments application of 100% RDF and biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost were found to be on par with each other in respect of plant height and total dry matter content of plant. Treatment 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost also produced highest number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob and weight of 100 grains over rest of the treatments, however it was on par with application of biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost in respect of number of cobs per plant which was on par with application of 100% RDF. Treatments 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost, application of biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost, 25% RDF and 100% RDF were on par with each other in respect of number of grains per cob. This might be due to the improvement in soil physico- chemical properties (viz. ph, Bulk density and infiltration rate) and optimum availability of major nutrients and organic carbon which acted as the growth and yield enhancing factors for maize crop. Sujatha et al. (2008) has been also reported similar results of positive effects of combination of sunhemp green manuring, use of biofertilizers and compost with inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield attributing characters of rainfed maize. Treat ment Plant height (cm) (at harvest) Table 3: Effect of different treatments on growth, yield and economics of maize (pooled). Dry matter per plant (g) (at harvest) Numb er of cobs per plant Numbe 100 r of grains per cob grain weigh t (g) Grai n yield (t/ha ) Stove r yield (t/ha) Gross return (x103`/h a) Net return (x103`/h a) T T T T T T T B:C rati o

9 Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Increasing 203 T T T T SEm± CD (P=0. 05) Effect on yield All the treatments has been significantly affected the grain and stover yield of maize (Table-3). Application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost produced highest grain(7.4 t/ha) and stover 12.6 t/ha) yield which was and percent more over control treatment. Application of biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost was found to be the next superior treatment which produced 6.7 and 10.7 t/ha grain and stover yield per hectare, respectively. Treatment control produced lowest grain (2.1 t/ha) and stover (7.1 t/ha) yield. The yield advantage observed in combination of inorganic fertilizers with application of biofertilizers, green manuring and compost might be due to the increased growth and yield attributing characters in maize. Shanwad et al. (2010) also has been reported the enhancement in maize productivity with combined application of nutrients through organic and inorganic resources. 3.6 Effect on economics Highest gross return (`95.9x10 3 /ha), net return (`54.2x10 3 /ha) and B:C ratio (1.30) were found in application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost, which were , and percent more than that of control treatment, respectively (Table-3). Treatment application of biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost was at second place in respect of gross and net return with producing `84.1x10 3 /ha and `44.4x10 3 /ha, respectively. With considering B:C ratio, application of 100% RDF is the second best treatment (1.26). Lowest gross return (`30.7x10 3 /ha), net return (`8.5x10 3 /ha) and B:C ratio (0.38) were recorded in control. These results are in close conformity with the findings reported by Sujatha et al. (2008).

10 204 A.H. Kalhapure et al 4. Conclusion From the tow years experimentation it can be concluded that, application of 25% RDF+ biofertilizers (Azotobacter+ PSB)+ green manuring with sunhemp+ compost is the best combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers for increasing for increasing productivity of hybrid maize with sustainability. This treatment is also responsible for improving physico- chemical properties and nutrient status of soil. References [1] Hepperly Paul, Lotter Don, Ulsh Christine Ziegler, Seidel Rita and Reider Carolyn (2009), Compost, manure and synthetic fertilizer influences crop yields, soil properties, nitrate leaching and crop nutrient content, Compost Sci. Utilization 17, 2, pp [2] Singh, R.B. (2000), Environmental consequences of agricultural development: a case study from the green revolution state of Haryana, India, Agric., Ecosystem and Envir. 82, 1-3, pp [3] Chandrashekara, C.P., Harlapur, S.I., Murlikrishna, S. and Girijesh, G.K. (2000), Response of maize (Zea maize L.) to organic manures with inorganic fertilizers, Karnataka J. Agric. Sci., 13, 1, pp [4] Antil, R.S. and Singh Mandeep. (2007), Effects of organic manures and fertilizers on organic matter and nutrients status of the soil, Archives Agron. Soil Sci., 53, 5, pp [5] Mohammadi Khosro and Sohrabi Yousef (2012), Bacterial biofertilizers for sustainable crop production: a review. Arpn J. Agric. Bio. Sci., 7, 5, pp [6] Islam, M.R., Sikder, S., Bahadur, M.M. and Hafiz, M.H.R. (2012), Effect of Different Fertilizer Management on Soil Properties and Yield of Fine Rice Cultivar, J. Environmental Sci. Natural Resources, 5, 1, pp [7] Martens, D.A. and Frankenberger, W.T. (1992), Modification in infiltration rates in an organic amended irrigated soil, Agron. J., 84, 4, pp [8] Rasoulzadeh, Ali and Yaghoubi, Ali. (2010), Effect of cattle manure on soil physical properties on a sandy clay loam soil in North-West Iran, J. Food, Agric. Envir., 8, 2, pp [9] Tetarwal, J.P., Baldev Ram and Meena, D.S. (2011), Effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and soil fertility in rainfed maize (Zea mays), Ind. J. Agron., 56, 4, pp [10] Sathish, A., Govinda Gowda V., Chandrappa, H. and Nagaraja Kusagur (2011), Long term effect of integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on productivity, soil fertility and uptake of nutrients in rice and maize cropping system, Internat. J. Sci. Nature, 2, 1, pp

11 Integrated Nutrient Management in Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Increasing 205 [11] Sujatha, M.G., Lingaraju, B.S., Palled, Y.B. and Ashalatha, K.V. (2008), Importance of integrated nutrient management practices in maize under rainfed condition, Karnataka J. Agric. Sci., 21, 3, pp [12] Shanwad, U.K., Aravindkumar, B.N., Hulihalli, U.K., Ashok Surwenshi, Mahadev Reddy and Jalageri, B. R. (2010), Integrated nutrient management (INM) in maize- bengal gram cropping system in Northern Karnataka, Res. J. Agric. Sci., 1, 3, pp

12 206 A.H. Kalhapure et al